News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

A local community’s plan to convert a derelict site into a People’s Park is set to become a reality after Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, sanctioned the

Leitrim Development Company to approve funding of up to $228,089 towards the first phase of the project.

The funding will be used to secure the site and begin the hard landscaping of the park, led by the newly-formed limited company, Drumshanbo Town Enhancements.

[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

There is widespread relief in Pallaskenry that the Garda (police) station in the village will remain open.

Chief Supt. David Sheahan has given a firm commitment to double this service “over the next couple of weeks.”

Speaking to the Limerick Leader following the packed meeting which took place in Pallaskenry Community Centre, Chief Supt. Sheahan said: “It has never been a consideration of mine to close Pallaskenry Garda station.”

“We currently have a Garda working on a part-time basis and I am going to double that in the short-term. In the coming weeks, I am hoping to have a second Garda working back to back.”

[Source: Limerick Leader]
LONGFORD

A young man with Longford links died after falling from an eight-story balcony in Spain on July 1.
Daniel Kenny (24) from Athlone was a grandson of May Kenny, Killashee Street, who formerly ran the successful Kenny’s Garage with her husband, Dan, who passed away a number of years ago.

Daniel was the son of Donal Kenny, who himself runs the Auto Parts and Tyres company in Golden Island, Athlone.

It is understood that the young man fell from a balcony outside his room in the hotel in which he was staying in the Santa Ponsa area of Majorca.

[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

The global company PayPal welcomed nearly 60 employees to the newly opened site.

Louise Phelan, vice president of global operations for PayPal in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said “I am delighted to welcome our first employees to Dundalk. Today 60 people started working here and by the end of this year we will have over 200 people in Dundalk with 1,000 by 2015.”

[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

A young Newport man was brought to a remote bog, stripped naked and thrown into the bog by two former friends who claimed he had raped a mutual friend of theirs a few days previously.

Brian O’Grady of Carrowsallagh, Newport, and Christopher Dyra of Mullane, Newport, both pleaded not guilty to several counts of assault and a single count each of false imprisonment against

Damien Murray of Skirdagh, Newport, on May 27, 2011, while Dyra was also charged with assaulting Murray on May 31, 2011.

However, the court went into recess while Murray was being cross-examined and afterwards both defendants pleaded guilty to a charge of Coercion under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act. Judge Rory MacCabe adjourned sentencing until January 2013.

[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

A County Meath company has pulled off a major trade coup by beating off international competition to land a $12 million contract with France's largest exporter of agricultural products, protecting 100-plus jobs at its Oldcastle headquarters in the process.

Dromone Engineering, manufacturers of hitching equipment for agriculture and construction, secured the contract with France's largest exporter of agricultural products, Massey Ferguson (Agco Group), based in Beauvais, north of Paris.

The company also has more good news in the pipeline as it is expected to sign an agreement on a contract of equal size in North America next month.

[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

Cross-border fuel smugglers caused further pollution in Co. Monaghan in the Croghan area of Annyalla.

They dumped five plastic containers with almost 5,000 liters of diesel sludge – the substance “laundered” from colored tax-rebated diesel when the dye is removed.

Removing the dye enables those processing the diesel to get a higher price for commercial fuel used by motor vehicles.

It was the third illicit dumping of sludge on the southern side of the Monaghan/Armagh Border within that week.